The officially named Canada Barbie is a new addition to Mattel's Dolls of the World collection — the line includes Barbies modelled after Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and Cinco de Mayo — and has been on the market since May. But it wasn't until a tweet from the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina on Monday that a flurry of buyers appeared for the limited edition, $30 doll.

The centre thought it would start small, placing an order for 100 dolls. But it sold out within 24 hours and the Mountie Shop, which sells the dolls online, sold out in 48 hours. Nationally, the RCMP says 300 dolls were sold in about a day.

"It's a bit crazy," said Bianca McGregor, director of marketing and strategic partnership at the Regina Centre. "We didn't think it would be this popular."

She said more dolls are on order, but it will likely take weeks and there are only a finite number available.

A spokesperson for Mattel said the company produced 11,000 dolls and has no plans to make more.

The dolls were a special collaboration with the RCMP last year. Mattel did take "some licence" with Barbie's appearance, Semerjian said, but a lot of co-operation turned it into "a pretty neat merge of the two icons."

Barbie came to life in 1959 and versions of the RCMP's iconic red uniform have existed since the 1800s.

Except for the heels and hair, Canada Barbie is a perfect mini-Mountie.

The redhead is a much more accurate representation, Semerjian said, than her blond predecessor, Canadian Barbie, who first sported an RCMP-inspired outfit back in 1988, but is no longer on the market.

Old Barbie didn't have quite the right hat, boots or lanyard, he said. "The update … is much closer, much more representative and, while keeping the Barbie look still there, certainly a lot more respectful to the RCMP brand."

Until stock runs out, the RCMP Barbie will be available through the Mountie Shop, as well as in select retail stores, including Target and Loblaws.

While some have welcomed the Canadian addition to the expansive Barbie family, critics have raised questions over the creation of a feminine RCMP Barbie at a time when the RCMP is facing sexual harassment complaints and abuse allegations from several female Mounties.

Torstar News Service

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(2) Comments

By david|SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 07:53 AM

GOOD POINT DOUG, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN CHARGES LAID AGAINST RCMP SUPERVISORS WHO HAVE ALLEGEDLY RAPED FEMALE SUBORDINATES AND GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT ALMOST SCOTT FREE. QUITE DISGUSTING.